Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho complains about Premier League and Uefa over Europa League arrangements

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Mourinho: Europa League is a "difficult competition to play" (Source: Getty)

Joe Hall

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has accused the Premier League of tiring his team out by never allocating them a Monday night game after a Europa League fixture.

Ahead of United's final Europa League group stage game against Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk on Thursday noght, Mourinho suggested his side was being denied adequate time to recover from European outings before being thrust back into domestic action.

Mourinho's men must avoid defeat in Odessa to secure their place in the last 32, before playing Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime.

"We assumed from the beginning that [the Europa League] was an important competition for us, but difficult because we play Thursday and then Sundays," said Mourinho.

"We are never given a Monday match to have one more day to rest and prepare, so it's a difficult competition to play, particularly with other massive competitions, but we want to try to win it and we want to go to the knockout stage, then go as far as possible, step by step, and the first step is this game."

Uefa also came under fire from Mourinho, who said they should have prevented Zorya from hosting games at home in December when the pitch is frozen.

"The pitch is hard, the pitch is icy," said the Portuguese manager.

"I think Uefa know the conditions of the pitch and everyone knows the conditions in Ukraine and Eastern Europe in mid-December are more difficult.

"So if Uefa was worried about it, they should change the fixture and not allow it to be played here in mid-Decemer."

Fringe players Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin have been left behind in Manchester by Mourinho, as have starters in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Everton Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian.

Wayne Rooney returns to the squad having been suspended for the trip to Everton.